Mancini was dismissed as coach of Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation announced today the termination by mutual agreement of the current coach’s contract Roberto Mancini. His successor “will be announced in the coming days once the contractual procedures are definitively and officially completed,” the statement added.

Mancini, Euro champion with Italy in 2021took over in August 2023, just two weeks after stepping down to direct the ‘azzurra’, and had a contract until 2027. But his time in charge of the Saudi national team has been disappointing. In 21 games under the command of the Italian coach, Green Halcones won 9, tied 7 and lost 5.

Tite, favorite to replace him

According to local newspaper reports, Mancini received an annual salary of 25 million dollars (23 million euros) and the French Hervé Renard, which he succeeded, is among the candidates to replace him, though the favorite is Titeformer Brazilian coach.

Under Mancini, Arabia were eliminated on penalties in January against South Korea in the round of 16 of the Asia Cup. The results did not improve in the qualifying phase for the 2006 World Cup.

The road to the World Cup is complicated

Negotiations finally began with Mancini for the end of the contract after the defeat suffered on October 10 at home against Japan (0-2).

Five days later, a 0-0 draw, also in Jeddah, against Bahrain left Saudi Arabia in third place in its group, 5 points behind leaders Japan and tied with Australia, in second. The first two will directly access the 2026 World Cup and the third and fourth will go to the fourth round.

In addition to the Euro Cup with Italyamong the titles that stand out in the coaching career of Mancini appeared three Series A consecutively at Inter (2006, 2007, 2008) and a Premier League with Manchester City in 2012. He also managed Fiorentina, Lazio, Galatasaray and Zenit.